Nominations are now open for Scotland’s Creative Ageing Awards. These are run by Luminate, Scotland’s organisation for the development of creative ageing and this year’s awards are part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.
They will recognise arts, crafts, film and creative media projects and activities which target older audiences and participants, or target cross-generational participants – or projects aimed at a wider audience which have a theme related to ageing.
The definition of “creative ageing” is very wide. Older people engage with the arts and creativity in many ways, and all of them are important. Activities can be led by professional artists, teachers, community workers, social care and healthcare staff, and/or community volunteers.
Some projects will be led by a mix of these groups. Individual awards will recognise an older person who creates their own artistic work, and someone who plays an inspirational role in the field of creative ageing.
Details of what they are looking for in each of six categories are outlined separately here.
To be eligible for consideration for a Luminate Creative Ageing Award, each nomination should relate to projects or programmes that:
Focus on the visual arts, performing arts, crafts, film or creative media
Offer an opportunity for people to get involved in, attend or engage with a creative or cultural activity that
either targets older audiences and participants
or targets intergenerational participants
or is aimed at a wider audience and has a theme related to ageing
They define intergenerational projects as those that bring younger and older people together in creative activities that are mutually beneficial and enjoyable, promoting greater understanding and respect between the generations.
The closing date for nominations is Sunday 11 September.
Full details on how to enter a nomination and a link to the form are available here.
A novel harm reduction initiative to help healthcare staff monitor and treat people who inject drugs has helped support more than 800 vulnerable people since launching.
The WAND programme, which incentivises the city’s most hard-to-reach communities to regularly engage with the health service, has helped facilitate more than 5,000 harm reduction interventions across three participating sites, with more than 1,200 WAND assessments taking place since the programme launched in September 2020.
Operating from three centres in Glasgow, the programme focusses on providing a holistic approach to addressing drug harms such as overdoses, blood borne viruses, and injecting related complications. It comprises:
W: Wound Care
A: Assessment of Injecting Risk
N: Naloxone Provision
D: Dry Blood Spot Testing
People who inject drugs can be hard to keep engaged with the health service, which is crucial in helping reduce the harms of drugs by providing advice and treatments and access to other services to help them.
WAND works by providing a £20 redeemable voucher to patients and encourages patients to return for follow up assessments every three – four months. The vouchers can then be exchanged for cash or other essentials. It’s one of a number of harm reduction programmes running across NHSGGC to help tackle the drugs crisis.
Through the interventions, staff can provide immediate care to the patients, helping avoid trips to A&E or further harm being caused further down the line. It also ensures that if a patient has a Blood Borne Virus such as HIV for example, this can be picked up at an early stage through dry blood spot testing and appropriate information and treatment can be provided to the patient.
John Campbell, Injection Equipment Provision Manager for NHSGGC, said: “WAND is by far the most successful harm reduction initiative running in Glasgow today. Individuals we look after come from the hardest to reach communities and WAND provides us with an insight and touch point with them that we would never previously have had.
“This means that through early intervention we can stop problems getting worse, which would cost more to address had they gone undiagnosed or untreated, and we can also encourage those patients to consider moving into recovery or to engage with other means of support to help them.”
As part of the 30 minute assessment, patients are also encouraged to carry naloxone with them at all times. Naloxone is a lifesaving injectable which is used to reverse overdoses. In the past year alone more than 3000 naloxone kits have been distributed, and more than 18,000 have been issued in total. Every week there are instances of naloxone being used to reverse overdoses in patients.
John Campbell added: “Naloxone is literally a life-saving device for many people. If we can ensure that our patients are trained and carry the kit at all times, it means that we’ll hopefully see far fewer deaths as a result of overdose in the future.”
The WAND initiative was recently referenced in the Scottish Drugs Deaths Taskforce report, which made the recommendation that the programme be rolled out on a larger scale due to its success in supporting and monitoring patients in the city.
Whether players want to improve their brain health and memory after sustaining a head injury or purely want to test their cognitive skills, memory activities are a great way to stimulate mental fitness and improve brain health.
Experts at SolitaireBliss have revealed a top 5 list of brain training and memory improvement activities that offer players a wide range of cognitive benefits.
Jigsaw puzzles
The benefit of puzzles is that they are available for all ages; whether you’re five or fifty-five, there are plenty of puzzles and jigsaw games on the market that will test your brain cells and improve mental speed.
Both physical and online puzzles are mentally stimulating and can also help increase concentration and attention levels whilst working to enhance positive moods.
Puzzles are also an incredible way to eliminate stress and reduce anxiety, so they are a perfect option for those suffering from these problems.
Card games
Card games might seem like an obvious option but are often forgotten about. Card games are the perfect way to work on improving problem-solving and strategy building.
Alongside delaying and preventing memory decline like puzzles, card games are also great for people who may struggle with social anxiety. They keep you socially active as many games require more than one player and help improve basic maths skills.
Knitting
Contrary to popular belief, knitting is not only for the elderly! Knitting is a great way to keep all brain parts active and engaged. The calming act of knitting helps reduce anxiety, has fantastic benefits like eliminating emotional stress, and is a great way to distract from pain.
Not only does knitting allow a great sense of achievement when the project is finished, but it’s also a great way to increase dopamine and serotonin, which promote the body’s happy hormones.
Chess
Chess is the perfect way to challenge the mind and keep critical thinking at the forefront of the brain. The ancient game helps to develop pattern recognition, analytical thinking, exercise logic and improve memory.
For centuries chess has been an impressive game to master, which is why the beloved game has seen many world champions over the years. Albert Einstein was known to be an expert at the game, just like his best friend Emanuel Lasker, who held the world title for 27 years, the longest reign of any world champion.
Online apps/websites
In this day and age where we are glued to technology and our phones, it is common for our minds to stay inactive and unengaged with all our hours of mindless scrolling, which is why brain training apps are perfect for everyday use by their ease of accessibility.
Many apps and websites are available for Android and Apple users, so finding one that suits you will be easy. Some of the most popular ones for brain training are SolitaireBliss,Lumosity, Elevate, CogniFit and NeuroNation.
A spokesperson for SolitaireBliss commented: “Not only are all these braining training activities beneficial by engaging cognitive skills, but they can help to prevent the early onset and reduce progression rates of Alzheimer’s, dementia and other memory-affecting diseases.
The benefits of taking part in any of these activities will keep your brain happy, healthy and engaged and give you the opportunity to learn a new skill and increase your social skills simultaneously!”
Jason Hall from Jason Hall Hairdressing in Edinburgh has been shortlisted for the prestigious Scottish Hairdresser of the Year title at HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards 2022, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional.
Now in their 38th year, the awards are an annual celebration of hairdressing excellence, recognising the remarkable achievements of stylists from across the United Kingdom.
Regional categories honour the finest hairdressing talent from across Britain with a separate category for International Collection of the Year, while seven specialist categories reward specific areas of hair expertise including Afro, Men’s, Avant Garde and Colour.
New for 2022 is the Session Hairdresser of the Year award which is by nomination only and see the very best stylists from the world of session put forward their favourite images of the last 12 months. The most anticipated award of the evening – British Hairdresser of the Year* – is by nomination only and is widely regarded as the industry’s greatest accolade.
Judged anonymously by over 100 leading hairdressers (including celebrity stylists, session stylists, salon owners, previous winners and Hall of Fame** members), all winners will be announced at a Black-Tie event to be held on Monday 28th November at Grosvenor House, a J W Marriott Hotel on London’s Park Lane.
Jason Hall was named as one of only six finalists in his region after submitting four photographic images demonstrating the breadth of his hairdressing expertise, showcasing evidence of both technical skill and creative ability. He will now submit a further four images for the final round of judging, which takes place in September. Both stages of judging are strictly and independently audited and verified.
‘This is such a proud moment for me’ says Jason. ‘These awards always bring together such exceptional talent and to see my name alongside those shortlisted is mind-blowing.
“I’d love to bring the trophy back to Edinburgh and hope the judges will recognise the love and hard work that has gone into my collection.’
Jayne Lewis-Orr, Executive Director of HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards said: ‘Every year, HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards serve as a reminder of the passion, artistry and expertise that this incredible industry has to offer, and it is a privilege to celebrate the talent and brilliance of creative individuals from across the country.
“In reaching the finals, Jason has demonstrated excellence in all areas of their craft, and an ability to bring together the magical elements that make a photographic collection stand out from the competition.’
Schwarzkopf Professional are the sole sponsor of the event and have been since its launch in 1985.
Julian Crane, General Manager for Henkel Beauty Care Professional UK & Ireland said: ‘As always, Schwarzkopf Professional is delighted to sponsor this revered event and we thank all participants for their continued support.
“My sincere congratulations to the finalists who once again have raised the bar with the standard of entries – the passion and creativity of this phenomenal industry never fails to impress.’
Road Policing Officers are appealing for information following a serious road traffic collision in Edinburgh.
Around 10.35pm last night (Saturday, 30 July, 2022), officers received a report a 35-year-old man having been struck by a black Mercedes-Benz A Class car in Colinton Road.
Emergency services attended and the male pedestrian was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Medical staff describe his condition as critical.
The 20-year-old driver of the car was uninjured.
A section of the road was closed for around six hours to allow crash scene investigators to conduct their enquiries.
Sergeant Iain McIntyre said: “We believe the area would have been busy at the time and are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision.
“In particular, we are keen to speak to the driver of a black cab, who was either dropping off, or picking up, passengers in Colinton Road at the time on the incident.
“We would also be keen to speak to those passengers as they may have information which could be vital to our enquiries.
“I would ask anyone with dash cam devices to check their footage as it could hold images, which could prove to be significant in our enquiries.”
Anyone with information can call 101, quoting reference 4406 of Saturday, 30 July, 2022, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The new ‘smart’ bin hubs at Pitt Street in Leith have been visited by Lorna Slater MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.
The visit highlighted the Council’s new scheme alongside the Scottish Government’s £3.4 million national investment from the Recycling Improvement Fund.
These new bins use digital sensors to reduce overflowing waste. The Pitt Street communal bins, along with litter bins in The Meadows and Lanark Road West mark the start of a citywide campaign to install intelligent sensors in over 11,000 communal and litter bins.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Environment Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Keeping the Capital looking at its best is a top priority for us so it’s great the Scottish Government is coming to see our new city-wide bin hubs in action. They are being introduced across the city to improve waste collection reliability and recycling provision for around 130,000 residents.
“We’re rolling out bin sensors as well in Edinburgh so that we’re alerted when litter bins need emptied and this will help us to make sure the city is looking at its best for residents, businesses and the millions of visitors we welcome from all over the world every year.”
PM writes letter of support to England’s Lionesses
Scottish Government gets in on the sporting glory act too
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to the England Women’s Football team, wishing them luck in the Euro 2022 final:
At least he didn’t mention the War …
All-female crew to lead RAF flypast over Wembley for Euro 2022 final
A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, crewed by three women, will be flanked by two Typhoon fighter jets as they fly over Wembley Stadium before England’s historic fixture with Germany.
The aircraft will fly over at 4:57pm, immediately after the national anthems, before kick-off. The Hercules will fly from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and both Typhoons will take off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “I wish the best of luck to the Lionesses as they take on Germany at Wembley.
“It’s a landmark day for English football and women’s sport and it’s fantastic that the Royal Air Force will be marking the occasion with a flypast featuring an all-female aircrew.”
The Hercules is captained by Flight Lieutenant Lauren who has been in the Air Force for 12 years. She has deployed all over the world, including Afghanistan, where she helped train the first female Afghan pilots.
Speaking about the flypast, Flight Lieutenant Lauren said: “I am proud to be piloting the lead aircraft for the flypast over Wembley. I’ve flown missions all over the world with the RAF, but this will be one of the most memorable.
“It’s been inspiring to watch the Lionesses progress and I will be loudly cheering them on as soon as I land back at RAF Brize Norton.”
Ahead of the match, the RAF and RAF Coningsby station Women’s football teams sent good luck messages to the Lionesses.
The Hercules aircraft flies a wide variety of operational missions including the delivery of humanitarian aid, with the ability to airdrop a range of stores and can operate from natural surface landing zones. To conduct these missions, it is vital that Hercules crews are highly skilled in low-level flying. Recently the aircrafts have been supporting NATO exercises in Eastern Europe, airdropping stores for the troops on the ground.
The Typhoon Fighter Ground Reconnaissance Mk 4 (FGR4) is the RAF’s fourth Generation Multi-role combat aircraft. The Typhoon provides Quick Reaction Alert with Crews on 24/7 readiness in defence of the UK, and the aircraft has been flying daily NATO air policing missions in Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile our Scottish Government is also keen to be associated with sporting success:
SUPPORTING THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Athletes representing Scotland at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have the full support of the Scottish Government, according to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.
Speaking ahead of arriving at the 2022 Games, Mr Robertson said he hoped Team Scotland would be inspired by their record success at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and looked forward to supporting those hoping to bring medals home in badminton, boxing, table tennis, lawn bowls, gymnastics, basketball, swimming and mountain biking.
The week also marks one year to go until Scotland hosts the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Mr Robertson said:“Scotland is fully behind all those representing our country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and I want to offer my best wishes to competitors from across the Commonwealth taking part in this year’s games.
“The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was a superb, inspiring and enriching event for us all and I hope that many of the athletes competing in Birmingham will draw on that inspiration – including inspiring those Scottish athletes to bring medals home.
“Major events enrich our cultural and sporting life, and the start of Birmingham 2022 also coincides with a countdown to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. From 3-13 August 2023, Scotland will host the biggest cycling event ever held with 13 World Championships combining into one mega event – so let’s capitalise on the excitement of this year’s Games and look forward to the Championships next year.”
Sports Minister Maree Todd said: ““It has been a pleasure to be at the Commonwealth Games to welcome the athletes competing on behalf of Team Scotland. Seeing their dedication and hard work paying off as they participate at this sporting level is inspiring.”
During her time in Birmingham, Ms Todd has officially opened Scotland House, the Scottish Government’s Games base, and has attended the opening ceremony of the Games.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf will be at the Games next Saturday (6 August) to catch some of Team Scotland in action, as well attending the launch of Athletics Trust Scotland’s campaign to transform lives through the power of athletics at Scotland House.
Puck, the mischievous sprite from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, would be suitably impressed by the idyllic Argyll woodland trail that bears his name.
Puck’s Glen, just a five minute drive from Dunoon with its ferry links to Greenock and Gourock, is one of a number of historical and natural landmarks that form part of the East Cowal Heritage Outdoors (ECHO) trails.
Dotted around a small peninsula that forms part of the spectacular but little known Cowal region of Argyll, the ECHO Trails represent an effective ‘packaging’ of an area that really could lay claim to being a geographical and geological gateway to the Scottish Highlands. The project was officially launched in July 2022 with the help of partner organisations that include the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, Forestry & Land Scotland, Historic Scotland and the Argyll & Isles Tourism Co-operative.
Accessed by both foot passenger and car ferries from Greenock and Gourock respectively, as well as by car through the stunning Rest & Be Thankful mountain pass, east Cowal comprises of a number of small settlements including Kilmun, Ardentinny, Strone, Blairmore and Lochgoilhead and loops around the banks of Holy Loch and Lochs Long, Goil and Eck.
This is an area, originally part of the kingdom of Dalriada, that has played a pivotal role in the moulding of Scotland through the ages with early Christian faith playing a part alongside some truly grim and gruesome clan rivalries.
The gorge that Puck’s Glen meanders through was developed by the Laird of Benmore, James Duncan, in the 1870s. The 2.8km walkway, categorised as a strenuous trail, is an enchanting and mystical journey through a lush habitat that’s rich in mosses and ferns and punctuated with delightful waterfall after delightful waterfall. It also showcases the finest aspects of the Argyll Forest, the UK’s oldest managed forest that dates back to the 1930s.
Just down the road in Kilmun there’s a clearly signposted arboretum with a number of walking trails of differing length and challenge that features trees from five different continents. It’s a showroom, if you like, for the forest as a whole but one that reflects the international roots associated with Argyll and this corner of Cowal specifically.
There’s Elizabeth Blackwell for starters. Starter of a revolution in the field of healthcare as well as being a social reformer and genuine changemaker. She forged a path in the mid 19th century as one of the first female doctors in the world, opening up opportunities for millions of women ever since and breaking down barriers wherever she worked in the US, France and across the UK.
Elizabeth was laid to rest just a few yards beyond the arboretum at St Munns Church, now home to the Historic Kilmun community and heritage organisation. It also hosts Faith in Cowal, an organisation that’s established a number of popular pilgrimage trails across the entirety of the Cowal peninsulas.
There’s a wealth of local stories to be found at this church-come-museum with visitors exploring Kilmun’s fascinating heritage as well as the resting place for countless Dukes of Argyll and Campbell clan chiefs.
Further on down the A880 coast road, pier pressure begins to tell with Kilmun, Strone and Blairmore’s marine promontories piercing the shoreline of the Holy Loch and Loch Long. All date back to the Victorian era when this part of the world became the ‘go to’ place for thousands of Glaswegians. They still do but are now joined by visitors from across the UK and much further afield enticed by that mystical grip that Scotland’s lochs and mountains exert on the human soul.
Further on, the village of Ardentinny has a wealth of history and nature to draw the visitors in. From the beach, a wild camping magnet for responsible campervanners with a network of different walks, to the Dun Daraich stone age fort that’s all but hidden from sight.
From here, overlooking the Coulport nuclear submarine base, there’s a 5 mile shoreline walk to the 17th Century Carrick Castle, now a private residence but another site resonant in conflict as a focal point for the many grisly feuds between the Campbell and the Lamont clans. Time it right and you’ll be able to get the minibus back!
Follow the road over to the Whistlefield Inn and you’ll be rewarded with some truly iconic vistas over Loch Eck. It’s money shot after money shot for those photographers with a fondness for exquisite natural compositions…as well as a decent pint and quality food in what is a supremely located, 17th Century drover’s inn! It’s up there with the Clachaig in Glencoe and the Sligachan on Skye as Scotland’s finest hostelries.
Turn right here onto the A815 and you’ll soon be at Lauder Monument, an impressively positioned shrine to John Lauder, a victim of World War One and son of Harry Lauder who purchased the Glenbranter estate in 1916. Harry was an international superstar at the turn of the 20th Century, performing all over the world and becoming the highest paid entertainer on the planet.
Glenbranter, just beyond the conclusion of Loch Eck, also offers a range of paths for all abilities that snake their way through a vibrant forestscape.
Head back towards Dunoon past another exquisite, picture postcard hostelry, the Coylet Inn. You’ll soon be back at Puck’s Glen but not before coming across the fantastic Benmore Gardens. It’s a large botanical paradise spread across the foothills of Beinn Mhòr and a heavenly haven for anyone with a passion for plants in their myriad forms.
There are 10 key locations within the ECHO Trails along with a number of places of interest as well as woodland walks, hikes and cycling trails across this small part of a small part of Argyll. There is so much to see and do in what is a microcosm of everything Scottish Highlands…but a wee bit closer to home.
When describing the humans entering his woodland fairy realm, Puck utters one of his most famous lines “What fools these mortals be”. You’ll beg to differ. Spend a few days exploring this forested and loch fringed world and you’ll be feeling far from foolish …and decidedly pucker!
Our new programme is live & starts on Monday 22nd August 2022.
If you live in the Leith area, have at least one child under the age of 5 you can sign up to some of our fantastic groups. Dads are welcome to join us too!
The type of activity primary school children do in PE lessons can affect how well they are able to focus afterwards, a new study has found.
Published in the British Journal of Education Psychology, the research found that physical activity performed as part of a group, rather than alone, had the greatest impact on children‘s attention scores.
Games-based activities also resulted in participants being better able to control their impulses.
Lead researcher of the Spanish study Dr Josune Rodriguez-Negro, who is a PhD researcher in the physical education and sport department of the University of the Basque Country, said: “The study findings highlight not only that physical education in schools can improve children’s attention and impulse control, both of which are linked to academic success – but also that different types of content can produce different results.
“Therefore it seems right to increase the amount of time children spend doing PE and for children to do PE first thing in the mornings to get the best results. Also, school leaders should select activity for lessons based on what they are looking to influence.”
A total of 135 children aged between six and eight took part in the study in a Spanish state school. They were split into three groups and each group was assigned to one of three intervention programmes: a balance intervention programme (BIP), a games-based programme (GBP) and a drama learning programme (DLP).
In the BIP intervention, children performed individual balance activities, like standing on one leg for a minute, whereas the other two interventions were group-based.
The study is believed to be the first to compare the effects of BIPs, GBPs and DLPs on children’s perception of the intensity of the intervention, how they felt and their cognitive functions.
The intervention programmes lasted eight weeks and were held during the school’s regular 90-minute weekly PE lesson, so there was no change to the structure of the school day.
Researchers found that after each intervention programme, children in the GBP and DLP groups ‘significantly’ improved their attention test scores.
Children in the GBP group also improved their impulse control scores.
However, children in the BIP group showed no improvement in either attention or impulse control scores. However, children in this group thought the activity they did was more intense than children in the other groups.
The type of activity children did had no bearing on how they felt during the intervention, they enjoyed it equally, whichever group they were.
